Outdoors: New rules provide boost to turkey hunters

The best local turkey hunting story from 2012 may well belong to Steve Gladding. Paralyzed from the waist down by a falling tree limb, Steve, according to his friend Ernie Foster, never gave up hunting.

With the help of friends who built a ramped blind for his wheelchair and called in a tom for him in Chester, Steve bagged his first-ever turkey during our spring season. Great hunters don’t let adversity stop them — or their friends.

The second best story for turkey hunters may be the good news just passed on by MassWildlife’s Bill Davis. For the first time since wild turkeys were restored to Massachusetts, their increased numbers will allow hunters to have a two rather than one-week fall season opening on the second to the last Monday in October. Previously hunted in only Zones 1-9, turkeys are now fair game in zones 10, 11 and 12, too.

Prior to this fall, only sizes No. 4-6 shot were permitted for turkey hunting. It’s now permissible — and highly recommendable — to use smaller, size No. 7 tungsten or bismuth shot.

Denser than lead, this new shot has several advantages. Since smaller shot means more pellets being projected, shooters have a greater chance of those extra pellets hitting their small head or neck target.

The denser size No. 7 pellets furthermore have exceptional knockdown power, retaining greater down-range energy. They also penetrate deeper than size No. 5 lead shot. Those two attributes translate to more harvests and quick kills.

The new ammunition at $18-$28 for 10 shots costs more than double traditional lead loads, which average about $8. Recognizing that most hunters are very thrifty, Bob’s Gun & Archery, like most gun shops, doesn’t carry it. But those who can afford it should use it.

Fall turkey hunters harvest only a fraction of the birds that spring hunters do. Vermont, for example, with a population of about 50,000 turkeys, harvested 4,713 last spring. Only 476 were taken there last fall. More may be harvested this fall, though, because of a smaller nut crop in the forests. Turkeys should be easier to locate there because they’ll need to forage on more vegetation and insects in fields.

Massachusetts has a similar drop-off in fall harvest numbers each year, as the greatest pleasure and lure of the sport lies in skillfully calling them in as they gobble. The spectacle of fanned tails and strutting is now replaced by flocks of birds — some comprised of entire families or bachelor groups — randomly scratching for acorns and periodically clucking. Imitations of that latter sound can help attract them now.

The modest increase in acorns in our Massachusetts forests this fall may have little holding power on turkey foraging patterns. They will probably also be seeking vegetation and insects in fields and be more easy to locate.

The lack of rain has drastically lowered local river levels. Staging landlocked salmon with spawning intentions at Wachusett Reservoir have consequently delayed ascending the Stillwater River there.

Rainbow trout from the McLaughlin and Bitzer hatcheries were stocked this week at South, Wallum, Comet, Long, Whitehall, Aig Alum, Webster, Dunn, Fort, Whalom, Conners, Browns, Singletary, Pratt, Denison, and Quinsigamond. The catch-and-release section of the Millers River was also stocked.

Low water levels and warm water temperatures prevented stocking in other Central District rivers and streams. The rainbows averaged 12 inches long.

Winds seem to be getting more obnoxious and limiting to both our hunting and fishing, stirring up white caps and spooking white-tails this month. Those who have ventured out on the water, though, have had good late-season action.

Red Top Bait’s Tom Coots notes that the fall run was still in full swing last week, with many stripers spread throughout the canal — not just the east end, where they had long been concentrating. Nighttime eeling has been good.

Eels are tough to find, though. Red Top regularly sells out, so anglers are advised to call ahead and reserve them.

As bass migrate south, blitzes are occurring sporadically. Some great days have been reported off Plum Island and the North Shore.

Small blues are still around, notably off the outer Cape beaches from Race Point to Nauset Beach, but the 10+ pounders seem to have all left us. Migrating stripers are pulling their annual disappearing act there. A 52-pounder was recently taken off Westport, and several good fish have been reported from Falmouth and the Vineyard, where albies are still hitting.

Fluke season is now closed, but sea bass remains open through the end of the month. Tautog fishing is improving for anglers using green crabs in rocky-bottom areas (there was a report of a 15-pounder recently taken). Pogies and scup remain abundant.

Bluefin fishing is still in full swing. Peaked Hill remains the most popular hotspot, with the famous BB Buoy attracting its share of sushi anglers. Many of the commercial fishermen are doing very well. Recreational fishermen are having sporadic success. The television program “Wicked Tuna” seems to be increasing the local passion for pursuing them.

A 10-fish bag limit for cod remains in effect through the end of the month. In November, it will drop to two fish, and the honey-hole conservation areas north of the Cape will close until April 16.

Rhode Island beaches have been giving up stripers, albies and bluefish. Numerous reports are coming in of even better sea bass and tautog fishing there. Rhode Island still has baitfish, notably squid, sand eels, menhaden and mullet, though the latter seem to be slowly dispersing elsewhere.

Big blues, having largely vacated Massachusetts waters, are available over much of Rhode Island — especially offshore. Watch Hill, loaded with bay anchovies, is still producing false albacore, but the fishing has gotten much more challenging.

Block Island seems to always be a Mecca this time of year. Bass are taking drifted eels. Tiny menhaden and sand eels are providing a feast.

If you want keeper-stripers, you’ll have a hard time finding a more promising area in our region. Albies are still hitting Deadly Dicks there, as well.

Long Island Sound off Connecticut isn’t matching Rhode Island’s production, but false albacore and bluefish are luring anglers there. Just off the Connecticut River, menhaden continue to hold stripers and bluefish.

Connecticut’s tautog season opened last week, to the delight of fishermen seeking to fill their freezers with these delicious crustacean eaters.

Today — Issuing of antlerless deer permits for Zone 11, beginning at 8 a.m. Technical problems with the new Internet system necessitate purchase of permits through Active Outdoors phone bank: (866) 703-1925, license agent locations, and the MassWildlife West Boylston field headquarters.

Today through Sunday — Nineteenth annual Fall Surf Fishing Club Challenge to benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Society. All fish must be caught from shore in Rhode Island. Info: Jim McKeough at jdmckeough@aol.com.

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